College offers a number of different classes and experiences inside and outside of the classroom. Many students learn so much while in school but there is a large number of students who lack in other various areas that most adults are proficient in. These things include knowing how to balance a checkbook and building credit. One of the main reasons why students attend college is to be prepared for the real world. Not knowing how to drive or save money will lead students to have a hard time surviving the real world. So why aren’t colleges teaching classes to truly prepare their students to survive?
A recent survey conducted by Loquitur Media showed that a majority of students would welcome a course that teaches them those things. The survey featured five questions: How prepared do you feel entering the real world? Do you believe that colleges should teach “common sense” courses? What is one thing that you don’t know how to do and that you wish you could learn in college? If these classes were available would you be interested in taking them? And whether or not these classes should be a requirement or an elective.
The survey was completed by 15 students from various majors and departments. The students gave different answers but the general consensus is that many feel that they aren’t prepared for real life and they would be interested if college offer courses that taught them things that would substantially help them out later in life.
Daisy Rodriguez, freshman political science major, had her own take on the matter.
“College doesn’t prepare you for basic stuff. Taxes, checkbooks, changing a tire. Things that you would need after you graduate we aren’t prepared for,” Rodriguez said.
Having a curriculum that includes everyday life skills that students will have to know once they graduate is essential and is desired by most students, as many feel that college doesn’t equip them with the necessary skills.
Students told Loquitur media that they wish college taught them how to write checks, how to pay bills and managing money. There are events and symposiums that may be held several times throughout the year that might touch on some of these topics but that won’t suffice. Having a class will essentially help students become more well-rounded and better prepared for everything that is ahead.
“Having classes that teaches you those things will be helpful,” Rodriguez said. “It’s better to learn it in school than miss out on it completely.”
One thing that was brought up was the fact that if Cabrini were to institute classes like these would they be required to graduate, like how Engagements in the Common Good classes work, or should they be electives. The majority of the students from the survey believes that “common sense” classes should only be electives because of the fact that you should be forced to take something you may already know. There may be a case where a student knows everything there is to know about cooking, why should they have sit through a class about cooking then?
Rodriguez looked at it through a different light.
“These classes should be a part of your core requirements, because it’s something that everyone needs,” she said.
Whether or not Cabrini actually will implement these classes remains to be seen, but the interest from students is definitely there.
“Many high schools used to teach things like this but they don’t anymore. I feel like wherever high school falls short college should pick up the slack,” Rodriguez said.
